Don't Make Me Use My "Teacher Voice"!

Back-To-School always involves teacher gifts and bus driver gifts! I try hard NOT to give too many coffee mugs, applely gifts, or what have you! But this year, the twins' teacher is BRAND NEW! Which means her classroom could probably use some "decor".  

Punny LipBoss!

I love PUN gifts. They show that you did't run out last minute, scrambling for anything that doesn't make sense, and that you put a little time, effort, and creativity into a gift. Just another reason I love my role as a LipSense Distributor.  I get to use my other talents for my customers, creating unique gifts!

Adult Coloring Books!

My top, 2015 gift of the year, to give out, has been the adult coloring books.  I stumbled upon them months ago, when the kids and I went to Michael's. Ty chose one as his "craft".  I bumped into them again, at Barnes and Noble, as I was Christmas shopping, and fell in love with them even more after discovering that they offered SCRIPTURE, adult coloring books.  I immediately knew I would want to purchase these for my small group girls, along with a set of gel pens. Eventually, it was a no brainer...I decided to purchase them as part of my children's teachers' Christmas gifts.  

The first scripture, adult coloring book I found was called, "Be Still!"  Each page has a beautifully illustration, a contemplative quote, a beloved hymn, or scripture.  

We live in such a hectic world- but what waits for us inside these covers is a way to quiet the noise, express creativity, and spend some sweet time with God.  

I wasn't sold on the prices at Barnes and Nobles, so I came home and not only price compared, on Amazon, (which by the way they are considerably cheaper) but I read MOUNDS of reviews.  Eventually, I learned about a new scripture coloring book, called "Whatever is Lovely", which was about to release, on December 15th to be exact.  So I also ordered 6 of these as well and allowed the girls in my small group to pick the one they loved best.  They ALL chose "Whatever is Lovely".

The reason they chose this adult book over "Be Still" is because they love how almost every page includes a passage that goes along with the page they are coloring.

I wrapped it up realllllly pretty and put a set of 15 gel pens into a metal tin, from the Dollar Tree.

I fell in love with this gift so much, that I had to give it again, only this time I chose the beautiful "Animal Kingdom" coloring book, by Millie Marotta. These went to Mrs. Thomsen, Mrs. Harlow, and Mrs. Clifford.

I spotted a STEAL on gen pens ONE day and bought the last (3) sets of 18.  I got 54 gel pens for $10.00.  

I have to admit, the Animal Kingdom book TRUMPS the illustrations of the "Whatever Is Lovely" book, but I had to buy myself the "Whatever is Lovely" simply because of the encouraging words that accompany each page.

Above and below: These are my two FAVORITE pages.

Again, I wrapped it up really pretty! I tied the teachers' gel pens onto the front of the package.

I cannot wait to start coloring!

Apples For Teachers ~ Thanksgiving 2015

Oh how we are so grateful, thankful, and blessed to have such amazing teachers this year!

I was so excited about our "thankful" gift finds.

I bought hallow, dark and milk chocolate turkeys from the Fresh Market. 

"Thankful" pumpkins from Kirklands.

"Give Thanks" and forest friends stamps!

Coppola wine!

Beautiful "Thankful" wine goblets from Pier 1.

I love the chalkboard sign on the back of each goblet.  Had I had more time, I would have written "Mrs." on one, and "Thomsen" on the other.  Oh well.

"Gobble Gobble till you wobble cocktail napkins."

"He carved the turkey.  I did everything else!"

I have really enjoy the WHITE BARN that we just got in the Valley View Mall.  I found these turkey candle holders.

AND a "thankful" candle!!!

A solar dancing turkey!

How darling his he? He dancings when placed in the sunlight.

Bath and Body autumn and fall scents.

I'm just especially thankful THIS year for the teachers we have. They have expressed how much these gifts brighten their day and make them feel valued! 

Teacher Appreciation Week 2015

It's no secret... I love to give and Teacher Appreciation Week is NO exception! Here are some of the ways we showered the kids' teachers during the entire week.

First up, "The 5 Things I Love About Miss Dixon!"  Everyone knows that handmade gifts are usually the best! They are filled with so much personal time.  Jax and Lilah traced their hands, 5 times, on Roy G. Biv paper.  The cutting out their handprints, they began thinking about what they loved the most about Miss Dixon.

You can see Lilah trying to share some of her thoughts below, but I asked the twins to keep their thoughts to themselves because I didn't want their answers to be the same.

I divided the twins into two different rooms and told them to write, on their cut out handprints, the 5 top things they love about their teacher.

You can see, by the serious looks, that they were carefully considering what the were writing on each hand.

 Here are the 5 things Lilah loves about Miss Dixon: 1. Her "hair"

 2. Her "Frecolz" aka Freckles.

 3. Her "Jolrrey" aka Jewelry.

 4. Her "Smile"

 5. Lilah says, "I love you!"

 Jax's top 5 things he loves about Miss Dixon: 1. She's "kind".

 2. He likes her "Laf" aka Laugh

 3. "I love you!"

 4. You're "Fune" or Funny

 5. You have a "Nice Smile"

Next up, GIFT CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!! Normally, I prefer to do MY OWN gifts for the teachers, but the parental involvement this year has been amazing and I knew Miss Dixon would receive a much bigger gift if everyone chipped in. I sent an email to the parents and most all parents chipped in enough money to grant Miss Dixon a plant and (4) $25 gift cards to various stores: Amazon, Michael's Craft Store, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, and Bath&Body Works.

We had enough money left over to purchase Miss Dixon's assistant a $25 gift card to Lowes.

We filled out a sweet card for BOTH Miss Dixon and the teacher's assistant.

I found these adorable gift card holders, at the Dollar Tree, and just included it with the gift for Miss Dixon, along with her favorite candy bar...Almond Joy!

We utilized this adorable photo, that I took of Miss Dixon's students' hands, and gave it out as an additional gift to Miss Dixon, Ms. Roberts, and Mrs. Klimaitis (the principal).  

Miss Dixon received the artwork in an "autograph" frame. Each of her students autographed it!  Dollar Tree baybeeee!

Ms. Roberts just got a regular 5x7 frame! As did Mrs. K.

Ms. Robin, the bus driver, also received a small gift bag of goodies.

 Of course you cannot forget the principal during teacher appreciation week, right?

And finally, the MOST IMPORTANT person at the school... The secretary: Mrs. Dixon.  Sh just happens to be Miss Dixon's mom!

 I loved the little printable I found off of pinterest!!!! It really is so true!

We bought the secretary an owl, car, visor clip from Bath and Body Works! Along with an air freshener insert.

White Reese's 

 A gift card to Chipolte too!

All of the above gifts were stuffed inside this adorable coffee mug that read, "Give Thanks!" ~Ephesians 5:20.  We do give thanks for ALL of the teachers at Ft. Lewis Elementary School.

Ty's teacher, Mrs. Rottkamp, received the same plant and a gift card to Amazon.  We bought her favorite candy bar as well, dark chocolate anything, and the same gift card holder!

Mrs. Rottkamp is really a special teacher as well! You can tell she really loves her job and her students. Ty has really valued and cherished having her this year.

 Finally, I signed up to bring the teachers a fruit tray and homemade cupcakes!

Roy G. Biv fruit and heart-shaped strawberries!  

I was REALLLLY excited to make these cupcakes for the teachers because I wanted to use the swirled icing technique, using BOTH of the schools colors: blue and yellow.  The lion is the school's mascot, so I made a sweet printable, with the lion on it, to be inserted into the cupcakes.

The cupcakes were vanilla cake, buttercream swirled icing, and they were filled with my special french vanilla fill!

 Fort Lewis PRIDE!

 I know the cupcake photos are over kill, but I was really proud/excited about how they turned out!

We received thank you cards for EVERYTHING, but the thank you card I am sharing below is for the parents of "Class Dixon" who chipped in for Miss Roberts gift.  I want them to be able to see how thankful she was!

If you are looking for other teacher gift ideas, please utilize my "labels", on our blog's homepage, titled "Apples For Teachers!"